Circulating and mixing device.



J.J.FEARON. GIRGULATING AND MIXING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 15, 1912.

1,079,753. Patented Nov. 25, 1913.

3 SHEETS-SHEET l.

WITNESSES \NVENTOR FEARON LZA 1 Qyis ATTORNEY 7Kfl. JM

I J. J. FEARON. GIRGULATING AND MIXING DEVICE. APPLICATION FILED O0'1.15..19-12.

1,079,753. I Patented Nov. 25, 1913.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

WITNESSES INVENTOR z-Tissz w J. J. FBARON. CIRGULATING AND MIXING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 15, 1912.

1,079,753. Patented Nov. 25, 1913.

. 3 SHEETS-SHEET 3. @n 4 0 /7 3a r M INVENTOR JAMES \J. WITNESSES i 'jll EARON 6 94% BY HIS 5 ,4 ATTORNEY 7 a Jv vm/vy W smarts rnrnnr JAMES J. Emu, or PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, assrenon qr. grin-wan J. Fox, 01E,BarmanELPHIA,. i lrmsynvagrm v Specification of Letters Patent.

G -Romulus AND MIXING. Device at ntedlvev- '2 1am.

Application filed October- 15, 1912, Serial No. 725,938;

My invention consists of certain improvements in the liquid circulating and mixing device constituting the subject of my appli-' cation, Serial No. 667,157, filed December 21, 1911, thejobjects of my present invendistribution of the liquid throughout the i in accordancewith my invention; Fig. 2 is' tion being to insure equable circulation and body of the tub, vat, or other vessel (hereinafter, for convenience, referred to as a tub); toprevent contamination of the liquid; to effect automatic changein the direction of circulation of the liquid, to accomplish this latter result without subjecting to severe strain the devices whereby the circulation of the liquid is effected, and, in

the case of a dye tub, to prevent entanglement ofthe yarn. v

In the accompanying drawings.Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of a tub provided with a liquid circulating and. mixing device a horizontal section of the same partly on the line aa, Fig. 1, and partlyon the line bb Fig, 1; Fig. 3 is a plan or ,top view of the driving and reversing mechanism for the liquid circulating device; Fig. 4 is a transverse section on the line c-c, Fig. '3; Fig. 5 is a transverse section on the line dd, Fig. 3; Fig. 6 is a side elevation of certain elements of a clutch-operating device constituting part of said reversing mechanism, and Fig. 7 is aside elevation of a valve-operating device constituting part of my invention. Fig. 3 is on a larger scale than Figs. 1 and 2, and Figs. 4, 5 and 6 are on a still larger scale.

The tub 1, in'which the liquid is contained, may beintended for different uses, such, for instance, as a dye tub, a vessel for mixing different liquids for the production of emulsions, or for any other purpose in which circulation, or circulation and agitation of the liquid is required, especially where the direction of flow of thediquid needs to be reversed at intervals.

Near one end of the tub is a transverse partition 2, which extends completely across the. tub from side to side, there being, however, a space between its lower end and the bottom ofthe tub, and the height of the partition being, by preference, such that it terminates below the normal-level of liquid in the tub. The partition 2 thus serves to;

form, at one endof the tub, a passage 3 leading from the top .to the bottom of the tub and that side of the partition 2 which. is adjacent to said passageis reversely beveled or curved so as to reduce the width of the passage 3 at a point, between the top and bottom of the same, as'shown in Fig. 1.

Extending transversely ofthe tub, through i the passage 3, at the reduced port-ion of the latter, is a shaft fl, upon which are mounted a pair of spirally disposed blades 5,.'0ne at each end of'the passage 3, as shown in Fig.

2, these blades being of reverse pitch as also indicated in Fig.2, and each being, by

preference, composed of a numbenof sections, as shown. It has been found 1n practice that, when such a spiral blade is rotated in the passage 3, it will; when rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 1, cause downward fl'ow ofthe liquid through said passage and when rotated in the opposite direction will cause upward flow of the liquid through the passage, consequently, by proper rotation of the blades, the liquid can be caused to flow through the passage either from the bottom to the top of the tub or from the top to the bottom ofthe same, and, by periodically changing the direction of' rotation of the blades 5, the direction of flow can be likewise reversed. Preferably, each blade has but a half turn around the shaft and they are disposed on opposite sides of the shaft so as to balance one another and prevent injurious strains upon the shaft. I

Besides the upward or downward flow of the liquid through the passage 3 there is also a lateral flow oftheliquidin said passage, and this results in such agitation of the liquid within the passage as will cause intimate admixture of'the component partsof the liquid body, and will prevent the settling of any particles held in mechanical suspension therein. Asthe shaft 4 is always submerged when the tub is being used, the bearing 51 through which the driving end of the shaft a stuffing box 52.

projects is provided with shaft 4 and reversingthe direction of ro- When the tub .is used for .dyeing purposes it is usually provided with a grated false bottom' 6, between which and the bottom of the tub is,a chamber 7, and when the 5 liquid is causedto flow downwardly through the passage 3 it passes beneath the partition 2 and flows longitudinally through this chamber 7 from one end of the same to the other, until it strikes the end of the 10 tub farthest removed from the circulating device and is deflected upwardly by reason of such contact. The upward 'flowsfofthe liquid in the central portion of the tub and in that end of the tub adjacent to the circulation device is, under these circumstances, deficient, andv in order to correct this objection and insure a substantiallyuniform upward flow throughout all portions of the treating chamber 8 of the tub, I locate in the chambe 7 a pair of deflecting plates 9, which extend diagonally inward from the sides of the tub toward the center of the same, as shown in Fig. 2, but provide, between their inner ends, a throat 10 for the longitudinal travel of liquid toward the end of the 'tub'. Those portions of the body of liquid located at and near each side of the chamber 7 contact with the deflectors 9,

and, as the latter converge, the liquid is crowded toward the center of the chamber 7 and is compelled to escape upwardly through the perforated false bottom 6. The

resultant of thetwo forces acting upon the y liquid is a flow in a forwardly and upwardly inclined course, hence the perforations in the false bottom are likewise inclined so as to permit of the flow of the liquid through themwith the least resistance. The deflectors 9 are preferably provided with passages 10 at the bottom, through which liquid can flow in the directions indicated by the arrows in Fig.- 2, so as to strike the sidesof the tub and be defiected upwardly thereby. The mechanism for driving the'propeller tation-of the same at intervals is shown in Figs. 1, 3, 4, 5 and 6, andis as follows: At the top .of the tub, above 'the chamber 3, is a hood 11, which serves as a support for a bed plate 12, the latter being provided with suitable bearings for three shafts 13, 14 and 30, as shown in Fig. 3, and being provided also, around its edge, with an upstanding flange 12 which prevents escape clutch 15, whereby the application of power to the shaft can be cut off whenever desired.

A spur wheel 16 -is secured to a sleeve 16 which constitutes the hub of a clutch drum 17, the latter being clutched to or released from the shaft -13, as desired, by means of a suitable friction or other clutch mechanism, a friction clutch being preferred and being shownin the present instance. A sprocket wheel 18 is secured 'to the hub 18 of a clutch drum 19, which can be clutched to or released from the shaft 13 by mechanism similar to that employed in connection with the clutch drum 17. The spur wheel 16 is in mesh with a similar spur wheel 20, keyed or otherwise secured to the shaft 14, and a sprocket wheel 21 is likewise keyed or otherwise secured to said shaft.

A drive chain 22 engages the sprocket wheels 18 and 21 and is also in engagement with a sprocket wheel 23 on a projecting end of the shaft 4, as indicated in Figs. 1 and 2. By reason of this arrangement of gear- .ing the shaft 13, although rotating continuously in one and the same direction, may be caused to impart rotative movement in either direction to the shaft 4, the direction of rotation being susceptible of reversal whenever desired.

The lever mechanism of both clutches 17 and 19 is operated by a single duplex cone 24, free to slide on the shaft 13 between the two clutches, the cone having such play that when the shaft is in driving engagement with one clutch the other clutch will be free from such engagement, and, when the cone 24 occupies a position midway ,between the two clutches, the shaft will be free from driving engagement with either clutch.

When the shaft 13 is in driving engagement with the clutch 17 power will be transmitted to the shaft 4 through the medium of the spur wheels 16 and 20, shaft 14, sprocket wheel 21, chain 22 and sprocket wheel 23, the sprocketwheel 18 being free to turn loosely on the shaft 13, as said shaft is free from driving engagement with the clutch 19. Supposing, therefore, that the direction of rotation of the shaft 13 is clockwise, the direction of rotation of the shaft 14 and con-v sequently of the spur wheel 20, sprocket said shaft '4 will be clockwise, the shaft 14,.

with its sprocket wheel 21 and spur wheel 20 likewise rotating in a clockwise direction, but the spur wheel 16 running loosely in a counter-clockwise direction, as the shaft 13 is free from driving engagement with the clutch 17. It will be evident, therefore, that change in the direction'of rotation of the shaft 4 can be effected by simply reversing the position of the cone 24' and that when the. latter is in mid position, the rotation of the shaft 4 will be arrested.

In order to provide for the automatic i 7 W186 rotations of the shaft 4, therefore,

shifting of the cone 24 at the proper times and also to insure the maintenance of the cone in mid position for a limited time during each of such shifting movements I employ mechanism as follows: Secured to the shaft 13 is a worm 25 which is in mesh with aworm wheel 26 on an upright shaft 27, the latter being provided with a worm 28 which is in mesh with a worm wheel 29 on the shaft 30, the latter being parallel with the shaft 30 are a pair of tappets 31 and 32, one of these tappets projecting from the shaft in one direct-ion and the other in the opposite direction, as indicated in Fig. 6.

The tappets act upon the oppositely projecting arms of a lever 33 WhlCh is secured to a rock shaft 34 mounted in bearings on the bed plate 12 and carrying a forked lever 35 which engages a grooved collar 36 on the cone 24, as shown in F 3 and 4.

When one arm of the lever 33'has been my fully depressed by the tappet 31 the cone 24 will be adjusted into position to engage the clutch 17 with the shaft 13 and free the clutch 19 from engagement therewith, and when the other arm of said lever has been 5 fully depressed by the tappet 32 these conditions will be reversed, the clutch 19 being in engagement with the shaft 13 and the clutch 17 being free from engagement therewith.

The speed of rotation of the shaft 30 is very low as compared with the speed of rotation of the shaft 13 and by proper regulation of these speeds any desired amount of time may be permitted tointervene between the successive shiftings of the cone 24, a corre- 1 spending amount of time therefore interreach the tapered portion of the cone they will move the latter to mid or inoperative position, this action resulting in the with-' drawal of the arm of the lever 33 from con- I tact with the tappet which started its move.-

ment. The parts will remain in this position until the continued rotation of the shaft 30 again brings the acting tappet again into contact with the arm of the 'lever 33 and continues the movement of the cone 24 so as to cause it to engage the levers of the opposite clutch and establish driving connection between the shaft 13 and the said clutch. A certain amount of time must therefore elapse between the release of one clutch from theshaft 13 and the engagement of the other clutch therewith, and during this time the rotation of the shaft 4 will be arrested.

Between the clockwise and co-unter-clockample opportunity is'aff orded' for the previously flowing body of liquid in the tub 1 to expend the greater portion of its force :or even to come to rest, thereby preventing {the severe strains upon the circulating deivices which result from attemptsv to force 'the liquid to flow in one direction while it is still flowing with full force in the oppogsite direction.

.and at one side of the shaft 13. Secured to In Fig. 7 of the drawing, 40 represents the J pipe, which in the case of a dye tub, supplies steam to the same for the purpose of heating v the dye liquor. This pipe has a valve chest j 41 from which projects a branch 42, the lat- .ter usually leading to the lower portion of fthe dye chamber where it communicates ;with perforated pipes suitably disposed for distributing the steam throughout the body fof dye liquor, the steam usually issuing from said perforated pipes in an upward direction. When the steam is thus injected :into the dye liquor while the latter is flowing upwardly in the. treating chamber it .has a tendency to cause agitation of the depending skeins of yarn and results in the entanglement of these skeins, and, in order to correct this. objection, I provide for cutting off the flow of steam during the time thatthe upward flow of dye liquor is maintained and permitting flow of the steam again when the direction of flow is changed and the liquor flows downwardly in the treating chamber. valve in the chest 41 has an arm. 43 connect- .ed by-a link 44 to an' arm 45 on the clutchoperating rock shaft 34, as shown in Fig. 7, whereby, when said shaft is moved so as to throw the clutch intosuch position as to cause operation of the circulator to cause flow of the liquid from the bot-tom to the top of the tub, the valve in the chest 41 will be moved so as to cut off the How of steam through the branch 42 and when the shaft is moved so as to throw the clutch For this purpose the to the opposite position and thus cause operation of the circulator to cause flow from the top to thebottom of the tub, the valve will be opened and the flow of steam resumed.

While I have shown and described, asan embodiment of my invention, a combination of parts which I have found to be effective in practice and which I therefore prefer,' it should be understood that my invention, in its broader aspect, is not limited to a combination of such specific parts, as modifications of the same may be'readily devised by &

. means for causing the liquid to flow longitudinally through the lower chamber, and a deflector in said chamber disposed at an angle to the direction of flow and serving by contact with the liquid to direct a portion of the same upwardly into the treating chamber. 1

2 The combination, in a liquid circulating device, of a vessel having a treating chamber and a chamber below the same, means for causing the liquid to flow longi tudinally through said lower chamber, and deflectors located in said chamber but providing a passage between them for the flow of liquid to the end of the chamber..

3. The combination, in a liquid circulating device, of a vessel having a treating chamber and a chamber below the same, means for causing the liquid to flow longitudinally through said lower chamber, and deflectors located in said chamber but extending only part way throughout the length of the same.

4. The combination, in a liquid circulating device, of a vessel having a treating chamber and a chamber below the same,

means for causing flow of liquid longitudinally through said lower chamber, and inclined deflectors located in'said chamber but extending only part way throughout the length of the same and providing a passage between them for the direct flow of liquid to the end of the chamber.

5. The combination, in a li uid circulatof a vessel having therein a pas-- sage leading from the upper to the lower 7 portion thereof and contracted in Width at an intermediate point, a shaft extending transversely through said contracted portion of the passage, and a spiral blade secured to said shaft.

6. The combination, in a liquid circulating device, of a vessel having therein a passage leading from the upper to thelower portion thereof and contracted in width at an intermediate point, a shaft extending transversely through said contracted portionof the passage, and spiral blades se-' cured to said shaft, one of said blades being located atone end of the passage and having .a right hand pitch and the other being located at the other end of the passage and, having a left hand pitch. K

a 7. The combination, in a liquid circulating device, of a vessel having a passage leading from the upper to the lower portion thereof and bounded in one direction by a partition presenting to the passage a reversely beveled face, a shaft extending transversely through the passage substan tially inline with the apex of said reversely beveled face of the partition, and a spiral blade secured to said shaft.

8. The combination, in a liquid circulating device, of a vessel having a passage leading from the upper to the lower portion thereof and bounded in one direction by a partition presenting to the passage a reversely beveled face, a shaft extending transversely through the passage substantially in line with the apex of said reversely beveled face of the partition, and spiral blades secured to said shaft, one locatedat one end of the passage and-having a right hand pitch, and the other located at the other end of the passage and having a left hand pitch. k,

9. The combination, in a liquid circulating device, of means for causingcirculation of the liquid, automatic means for' changing the direction of flow ofsaid liquid at intervals, and automatic means for arresting the operation of the circulating device, at each such change, until the flowing body of liquid has substantially expended its force.

10. The combination, in a liquid circulating device, of rotary circulating devices which cause flow in a direction dependent upon the direction of rotation thereof, automatic meansfor reversing such. direction of rotation at intervals, and automatic means for arresting rotation at each change of direction until the flowing body of liquid 6 has substantially expended its force.

11. The combination, in a liquid circulating device, of a vessel having a passage leading from the upper to the lower portion thereof, a shaft extending transversely through said passage, and spiral blades secured to said shaft, each of said blades having a half turn around the shaft and one of them being located on one side of the shaft and at one end of the passage ,and the other on the other side of the shaft and at the other end of the passage.

' 12. The combination, in a liquid circulating device, of a vessel having a treating of the liquid upwardly through the inclined I passages in the partition.

13. The combination, in a liquid circulating device, of a vessel having means for causing circulation -of the liquid either upwardly or downwardly therethrough at will, of a pipe for supplying steam to the liquid,

a valve in said pipe and means connected with the reversing mechanism for the circulating device whereby said valve is operated so as to cut off the flow of steam during the upward flow of the liquid and permit flow of steam during the downward flow of the liquid.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscrlbing wltnesses.

JAMES J. FEARON.

Witnesses:

KATE A. BEADLE, HAMILTON D. TURNER. 

